Taco Bell E. coli Lawsuit

Our lawyers have won money for food poisoning victims in cases against Taco Bell.

Question: Do I need to have leftovers from Taco Bell?

No, you do not need to have leftovers to file a lawsuit against Taco Bell. As part of a food poisoning outbreak investigation, health officials take stool samples of victims. Tests on the stool samples provide a genetic fingerprint using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to discover the strain of foodborne pathogen (Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria Mnocytogenes, Shigella) that has made the victims of the outbreak sick. If the bacteria that made you sick has the outbreak’s genetic fingerprints, your case is confirmed as part of the outbreak.

Question: Do I need to make sure my stool sample is tested?

Yes, your stool sample should be tested for Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella Listeria monocytogenes, or Shigella. If any of these bacteria are found in your stool, additional genetic testing should be conducted. You should contact one of our lawyers at 1-888-377-8900 for assistance. We have experience with genetic testing procedures.

Question: What if I ate at more than one Taco Bell restaurant?

Our lawyers have successfully applied the doctrine of alternative liability to food poisoning cases. Under the doctrine of alternative liability, all parties linked to an outbreak can be held liable for each victim’s injuries. Taco Bell restaurants can be owned by individual franchisees, so this may be an issue in a Taco Bell lawsuit.

Question: What if health officials don’t find the food responsible for the outbreak?

While it is always best if contaminated food can be found at the restaurant, it is not necessary for a Taco Bell lawsuit. The liability of the restaurant can be proven through epidemiology and microbiological tests of outbreak victims if the outbreak has been already linked to the restaurant by public health officials.

Question: Is Taco Bell the only company involved?

Maybe not. Taco Bell is owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Some Taco Bell restaurants are owned by individual franchisees and not a central corporation. Corporate and insurance documents would have to be examined by our lawyers to determine who should be sued.

In addition to Taco Bell restaurants, others may also be liable for your injuries, including distributors, processors, and growers.

Question: Is Taco Bell liable if the contamination is traced to a distributor or another party?

Yes, restaurants are liable for any injuries resulting from consumption of food served by the restaurant. Anyone who contracts food poisoning at a restaurant is entitled to damages from the restaurant. If the restaurant then wants to pursue a distributor or other party, that is up to the restaurant.

For most food poisoning cases, it is best to sue every party possible to make sure that the victims are compensated. If one of the parties goes bankrupt or exhausts its insurance coverage, there will still be another liable party from which a victim may collect damages.

Question: What damages can I ask for?

In a food poisoning lawsuit, you can usually ask for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. With the assistance of our attorneys, the spouse of a food poisoning victim sued for loss of comfort and companionship as a result of her spouse’s emotional and psychological injuries. If someone dies from food poisoning, our lawyers can help you with a wrongful death claim.

Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker has gained a national reputation for excellence in the area of food poisoning litigation. He and his team at Pritzker Hageman law firm have recovered millions for food poisoning victims, including a recent $6,425,000 settlement. For a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE) or submit our online contact form.

Pritzker Hageman, P.A. is a national law firm that represents food poisoning victims throughout the United States. This Taco Bell lawsuit information is provided for informational purposes as a public service.

Trademark Notice: “Taco Bell” is a registered trademark of Yum! Brands, Inc. Our law firm is in no way affiliated with either Taco Bell or Yum! Brands, Inc. The use of this mark is solely for informational and product identification purposes.